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Practice Tips

Did you know that some title insurers include exceptions to fraud coverage for private lender transactions where the mortgage funds are not paid to acceptable parties?

question mark over houses

In light of the commonly held view that real estate is a safe investment, many individuals use mortgage investments to supplement income or as a means of saving for retirement. Unfortunately, a reality of the current real estate landscape is that private lenders are often the target of identity frauds. A title insurance policy generally… Read More »

Categories: 2020 January - Finding Your Way, Articles, Practice Tips, Real Estate, Title insurance

Ontario’s New Construction Act Arrives on July 1, 2018: Don’t get Caught by the Transition Rules

[This article was edited on June 7, 2018] The Construction Lien Act amendments will begin to take effect July 1, 2018. Hailing big changes to timelines, procedures and the manner in which many disputes will be resolved, the new legislation includes a gradual transition to help you avoid a misapplication of the new provisions. Among… Read More »

Categories: Articles, Construction, Limitation Periods, Practice Tips

Ending well means starting right: The family law intake process

lawyer and client talking

The most critical step in any family law case is when clients meet with prospective counsel. That meeting establishes the nature of the relationship, a preliminary game-plan, and each party’s expectations of the other. Most clients approach that inaugural meeting with considerable anxiety. Most have never dealt with a lawyer, and certainly not with respect… Read More »

Categories: 2018 February Top Legal Disruptions, Areas of Law, Articles, Communications Errors, Content Type, Family, Inadequate Investigation, LAWPRO Magazine, LAWPRO Magazine Article Type, Malpractice Errors, Practice Tips, Retainers, Topics

The mysterious magic of routines

magician hat

As a child, did you step carefully over every sidewalk crack? Tap each post of the hockey net before settling into the crease? Wear your lucky socks to every law school exam? Even those of us who scorn superstition rely on routines and rituals for our own protection: we swallow a daily multivitamin, fasten our… Read More »

Categories: 2017 August Managing Change, Articles, Communications Errors, Content Type, LAWPRO Magazine, LAWPRO Magazine Article Type, Practice Tips, Topics

5 year rolling administrative dismissal date: Rule 48 after January 1, 2017

Man running from boulder

LawPRO reminds lawyers that on a rolling basis beginning January 1, 2017, matters commenced on or after January 1, 2012 will be automatically dismissed five years after they were commenced. Remember, the courts will dismiss actions without sending notices of any type to parties or their lawyers. Update internal firm systems to tickle all relevant… Read More »

Categories: 2017 February Neuroscience, Admin dismissals/Rule 48, Areas of Law, Civil Litigation, LAWPRO Magazine, LAWPRO Magazine Article Type, Personal injury, Practice Tips, Time Management

Pre-2012 matters not set down will be automatically dismissed January 1, 2017

Rule 48 on calendar

As we move through September, LawPRO urges lawyers to review their litigation files and make sure they are proceeding as appropriate. The clock is ticking and time is running out! Remember, under the new Rule 48.14 of the Rules of Civil Procedure, matters commenced before January 1, 2012 will be automatically dismissed – without notice… Read More »

Categories: 2016 September A2J, Admin dismissals/Rule 48, Articles, Civil Litigation, Limitation Periods, Practice Tips, Time Management

Potential claims related to serving Indigenous clients

We hope that January 2016 issue of LAWPRO Magazine has contributed to your understanding of the incredible breadth and complexity of “Aboriginal law.” We would not be fulfilling our risk management mandate, however, if we didn’t contribute our own perspective as claims prevention specialists. To avoid claims, lawyers need to know how they develop. What… Read More »

Categories: 2016 January Indigenous, Aboriginal, Articles, Communications Errors, Failure to Know The Law, Features, Inadequate Investigation, Indigenous clients, Practice Tips

OHIP subrogated claims

Counsel liability issues raised by OHIP subrogated claims Counsel representing clients who seek compensation for injuries caused by another’s negligence or wrongdoing are encouraged to be mindful that the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care may also be entitled to recover its costs for health care and medical treatment provided to the injured party from… Read More »

Categories: 2016 January Indigenous, Articles, Civil Litigation, Communications Errors, Failure to Know The Law, Personal injury, Practice Tips

Access to justice: Limited scope representation

Consulting man sitting in chair

Increasingly, legal services are moving away from the full-service model. Outsourcing document review, e-discovery, and other discrete legal services are becoming more common-place. Small practitioners and larger firms alike can offer limited scope representation, or “unbundled” representation, which let clients pick and choose when they want to engage with a lawyer during the life of… Read More »

Categories: 2015 September Blue Sky, Access to Justice, Articles, Civil Litigation, Communications Errors, Limited scope retainer/unbundling, Practice Tips

Risk management strategies to reduce your risk of a claim under the new Rule 48.14

Rule 48 on calendar

Effective January 1, 2015, a new Rule 48.14 brought significant changes to the administrative dismissal regime in Ontario. After several hundred claims and more than $7 million in claims costs over the last three years, LAWPRO was happy to see old Rules 48.14 and 48.15 revoked. However, while LAWPRO believes the new rule will stem… Read More »

Categories: 2015 February - LAWPRO 20th, Admin dismissals/Rule 48, Articles, Civil Litigation, Practice Tips, Time Management

Land Acknowledgement

The offices of LAWPRO are located on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, Anishnabeg, Chippewa, Haudenosaunee and Wendat peoples. Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit. LAWPRO respects and acknowledges the histories, languages, knowledge systems, and cultures of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit nations.

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